I'm just learning how to now, and what really helps me is to have someone lunge my mare for me, while I just ride -- that way, you don't need to focus on anything but staying put.
Also, I got a length of cotton rope and loop it around Magic's neck to use as a handle -- just be careful to make sure your horse won't get upset if you accidentally jerk back on it. Another thing that works is if you can find a driving collar that fits your horse... I found one in my grandpa's barn that's probably no good for driving anymore, but it's just bulky enough that it sort of gives you something to grip. Just watch that it's not rubbing any fur off, especially if it's off an old work harness; it might need some fleece padding then. ^^;

I rode Diesel bareback a few weeks back and cantered bareback for the first time. What worked for me was holding his mane (I was extremely off-balance.. but he stopped every time I started to slip. He is AMAZING.) so I didn't catch him in the mouth and just focusing on two things: 1) Getting him to canter and 2) staying on. Once he got going I started trying to correct my position, ect. But I held his mane the whole time. I was super nervous, lol.

Let your legs hang, don't pinch with your knees/calves as that only urges them to go faster and get strung out/hollow. When that happens they get bouncy. I found the easiest way to learn was just to ride bareback a ton. I actually like bouncy horses better to learn bareback on, because they teach you to follow the rhythm better than the smooth ones IMO.

What has helped me was a few tricks I used for jumping bareback, esp at the canter: I think it is a good idea to first have your trainer put you on the lunge line so you can just sit and relax and not worry about steering. Tie your reins in a knot and let go of them and focus on your seat.
Next, when you feel yourself starting to slip to one side, take note of it. It'll take a few tries to "feel" it in time, but once you really get in tune with your body and feel yourself start to slip, say to the right, shift your HIP to the left. It isn't so much a huge shift in thinking "I gotta move my body to the left" or trying to grab mane or reins to balance. Your movements should be in your hips. If you feel that slip coming, move the hip to the left and heels up toes down.
You can also try this with a saddle but no stirrups. Just let your legs hang normally and don't pinch with the knees. Think butt. You want your butt solid on his back and moving with him.
Is your horse on the correct lead? This may also make it harder if he is cantering around on the wrong lead. It isn't impossible to ride, just might make things a little more challenging.
Good luck OP!

I'm learning how to canter bareback in my riding lessons but I can't stay on long enough. I either fall off or slip and pull on the reins to stop. I can trot bareback and I can go over poles but cantering is harder.

I don't know if I'm just unconfident or if I'm doing something wrong...

Anyone have any tips for me? Like leg positioning or anything?

A thing my trainer always used to tell me that really helped is
"melt into the saddle"
I always used to slip off or get really off balance when I first started riding and that seemed to help a lot.
Just apply that to bareback and it should work.
You have to focus on moving with the horse. The reason why you are slipping off is because you are tense and it's causing your legs to be tense, which is making it harder for you to stay on.
Relax your legs and seat, and "melt" onto the horse.

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